Empowering next gen of cyber talent

We recently had the pleasure of delivering a Students of Cyber session in collaboration with Focus Networks, hosted at NEXTDC—and what an energising and insightful experience it was.

Led by David Staeck and his team, the session brought real-world cyber security practice straight into the room, giving students a front-row seat to how incidents are managed beyond the classroom.

From theory to reality

Students were immersed in a scenario-based discussion, where they stepped into the shoes of cyber professionals responding to a live incident. This interactive format enabled them to:

- Understand how teams respond under pressure

- Explore the process of identifying and managing threats

- Gain insight into how experts trace back the source of an attack

The level of curiosity and engagement in the room was incredible, with students actively thinking through challenges and solutions as they would in a real cyber environment.

Putting skills into action

The session then transitioned into a hands-on Capture the Flag (CTF) challenge, giving students the opportunity to apply what they had learned in a practical and collaborative way. It was fantastic to see problem-solving, teamwork, and technical thinking come to life.

This session is a powerful reminder of the importance of industry-led engagement in building capability and confidence in the next generation of cyber professionals.

A big thank you to David Staeck and the entire Focus Networks team for generously sharing their time, expertise, and real-world insights with our students—we truly appreciate your commitment to developing future cyber talent.